“Through a number of sources, it has become clear to me Spurs are interested, but the club haven't contacted Ajax so far”

Guido Albers

Albers said: "Through a number of sources, it has become clear to me Spurs are interested, but the club haven't contacted Ajax so far.

"So we can't say much about it now. Frank isn't thinking about it. He's fully focused on Ajax.” But it appears Koeman, 50 – who has also managed Ajax, as well as Benfica, Valencia, PSV Eindhoven and AZ Alkmaar – could also be a solution if rookie Sherwood flops during his trial period as interim manager.

Koeman is out of contract at Feyenoord in the summer, having only signed a one-year extension as he was hoping to take charge of Holland after the World Cup.

But Guus Hiddink looks to have secured the role as Louis van Gaal’s replacement.

Spurs sources were adamant yesterday that chairman Daniel Levy wants to give Sherwood the chance to prove he can step up from his job as assistant technical director.

In his debut match as caretaker boss Spurs lost 2-1 at home to West Ham in the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup.

IN CHARGE TEMPORARILY: Tim Sherwood has taken over as Spurs manager until a full-time replacement has been found [GETTY]

But Sherwood was at pains to point out the team suffered from having to switch to a high-intensity game, compared to the more measured approach of Villas-Boas.

“I’ve got to be in the frame,” he said afterwards.

And a decent display at Southampton on Sunday will enhance his prospects of landing the job on a permanent basis.

Levy is in a difficult position because although he wants Sherwood – who he rates highly – to succeed, he knows he needs a Plan B if the experiment fails.

That appears to be why they are sounding out the likes of De Boer and Koeman, with former England boss Fabio Capello also possibly available in the summer, as he has not yet signed a new deal with Russia.

One sticking point with De Boer could be the fact he is unlikely to be able to bring his current assistant, Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp, to White Hart Lane.

There is very little prospect of Bergkamp joining Tottenham, especially as he is seen by some at the Gunners as a possible successor to Arsene Wenger when the Frenchman eventually leaves the Emirates.